SECRET
FROM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 111600Z FCO
TELNO 117
OF 11160OZ JANUARY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRE EROM HONG KONG
HEB G11/
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 JAN 1988
DESK OFFICER
PA
INDEX
133333
MDHIAN 2982
TOP COPY Q DIST?
27
MY FIRST AND FIFTH IPTS: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER: AMENDMENTS (CHAPTER IV AND V)
FOLLOWING ARE REVISED TEXTS OF PARA 39, 42(C) AND 44.
BEGINS
39.
THE TEN OFFICIAL MEMBERS THREE EX-OFFICIO AND SEVEN APPOINTED
-
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INTRODUCING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, EXPLAINING GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ANSWERING OTHER MEMBERS' QUESTIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED TO FULFIL THESE FUNCTIONS UNTIL THE RELEVANT LONGER-TERM CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN SETTLED. THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS WAS REDUCED IN 1985 FROM 18 TO TEN. AS A RESULT, OFFICIAL MEMBERS NOW HAVE TO HANDLE SOME MATTERS IN THE COUNCIL FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NO DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT IDEAL: IT WOULD CLEARLY BE BETTER TO HAVE THE OFFICIAL DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH ITEM OF BUSINESS PRESENT IN THE COUNCIL TO HANDLE IT. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD MEAN EITHER APPOINTING MORE OFFICIAL MEMBERS, OR FINDING ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF ENABLING A WIDER RANGE OF OFFICIALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNCIL'S PROCEEDINGS. THE RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER SHOWS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT IN FAVOUR OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS. ALTERNATIVES MIGHT BE TO ARRANGE FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF OFFICIALS TO ATTEND EACH MEETING OR TO HAVE OFFICIALS ATTEND MEETINGS AS NON- MEMBERS. AN EVER-CHANGING TEAM OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD, HOWEVER RUN THE RISK OF RADICALLY ALTERING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION OR DAMAGING THE COHESION OF THE COUNCIL.
42. (C) THE NUMBERS OF MEMBERS ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTIT- UENCES WILL BE INCREASED FROM TWELVE TO 14. ONE ADDITIONAL MEMBER WILL BE ELECTED FROM AN ENLARGED FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY (TO BE RENAMED THE ''FINANCE AND ACCOUNTANCY 1 CONSTITUENCY) AND WILL REPRESENT MEMBERS OF THE ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSION. THE OTHER WILL BE ELECTED FROM AN ENLARGED MEDICAL CONSTITUENCY (TO BE RENAMED THE
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